For Filipinos around the world:Pres.Arroyo pledged to turn the Philippines into a First World state by 2020.?

if everybody just says in her dreams or impossible.. even though who the president is and even though how aggressive her efforts are, I think a first world state will never happen.

well, you see, cooperation and unity play an important role. But since, some people are satisfied with their present situation and even some care less for their fellow people, I think it would need one gigantic effort.

But if the changes start now, so that the people can "see" them. I think that when in the future when we will become overseas Filipino workers we would want to come back. After all, our parents have invested their lives in the country.

Well, if you look at a different perspective, if you become overseas workers, you will have the opportunity to improve yourself and be much more capable in helping your fellow men back at home.

I say, in her dreams. Why does she predict that the Philippines, by year 2020, will be a First World state? Has she intentions of keeping to her presidency even after her term expires? Will she do another Marcos and declare Martial Law so she can cling on to her seat even if the people does not like her? She is only half in her work and promise to keep the country's economy above the dangerous line of poverty and still misses the clear and obvious signs that glare at her in her travails into the countryside. Can't she distinguish what is reality and what is a figment of her imagination? Does she continue to close her eyes to the truth and turn deaf ears to the cries of the hungry and the jobless? She is an economist, intelligent others said; but,has her

diploma done any good to improve the economy of the country? HAS IT WORKED FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN HER?

There is no point in going back to a country that is half dying because it is impossible to discern a beautfiul and united Philippines in the near future or even in 2020.

She should have asked her father, the late Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, who made the country poor. If it were not for her father's poor economic strategies, his fumbling handling of the country when the peso dived to a very low rate (the dollar exchange rate when he took over as president was something like 2 or 3 to a dollar. But when he was defeated in the election by Marcos, the dollar exchange rate went up to18 or something) And that was the beginning of the downfall of the Philippines and the Filipinos.

First, is she saying she'll still be in power 13 years from now?

Holy cow if she is. We will have sunk 13 miles deeper in the ocean by then. Until every one in government promises that there will be no graft and corruption and the buddy-buddy system, I'll never go back. And I don't care what party or affiliation is in power. Filipinos will continue to migrate to other countries as long poverty and unemployment continue to rack the Philippines. It's a sad state of affairs.

Beavis, are you Filipino? If you are, you should know why we go overseas . If you are not, then your answer would not make sense. None of us deny that the Philippines is a third world country, which is exactly behind the reason we go look for employment elsewhere. Understand?

Singapore was poorer than the Philippines when it gained independence around the 1960's. It took Singaporeans political will and a benevolent dictator to achieve their current 1st world status. The current Prime Minister of Singapore is the son (basically inherited the position) of the 1st Singaporean Prime Minister who stayed in power virtually uncontested for decades. Singapore has a tight control on the local media, opposition is basically not allowed and so are protests in the streets (if you gather more than 5 people, you will be all arrested). You can not even chew a gum in Singapore. If the Philippine government can discipline Filipinos and these so called "pro-democracy" activists (who are basically communists), we can become a First world state by 2020. In fact the Philippine economy in the 1950's and 1960's was only second to Japan. We were once a proud nation. Unfortunately history was not kind to us and we became the sick man of Asia.

Calling all nurses abroad... I mean Filipinos. Philippines needs you back by 2020!

Well, This wont happen unless the Filipino people will have unity... Pagkakaisa lng ang kailangan natin. Sana maintindihan to nang Gobyernong Pilipino... Marami nang nag-iinvest kasi sa Pinas na mga dayuhan eh, at naglalakihan na ang mga ulo nila dahil sila nagbibigay ng trabaho kaya sana naman mai-angat naman ng Pilipino mismo ang Pilipinas.

But even if the Philippines was poor since I was born on this Earth, I still love my country for its People... LIKE EVERYBODY SAID: "PEOPLE ARE BETTER THAN PLACES" PEACE !!!!!

by 2020? well im not a pro-PGMA nor a pro-opposition, but all i know is that saying "ask yourself what you can do for your country and not what the country can do to you." it is okay that we believe her that she can build a better moreover a best philippine country. yes, i will go back to the philippines if that happens. because i was born here in the philippines i was educated here too my family is here also. so why not give a hand to my fellow countrymen. we cannot blame professionals who work abroad, because they care for their families too.

She lies. She can't do it in a million years the way she is running the country. She is the very reason why the OFWs' and migrants' numbers rose to an unprecedented level during her term....

2020???? OMG!!! She intends to reign that long!????

Nako, hindi na nga maipanalo ni Gloria ang mga kamag-anakan nya sa Pampanga at ang Team Unity, tapos sa 2020 gagawin nyang First World ang Pinas? Tawag ko dyan ay pambobola!

I won't let her stay that long until 2020. I hope this is not a prelude to another "Martial Law". Where she can exercise er power indefinitely.